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Wayne Catalano, winning trainer of Stephanie’s Kitten (No. 2): “They moved the rail in and [the course there] hadn’t been touched all year. So, the two path was the path to be in. We were in the No. 2 hole and when the hole opened up, and Johnny stuck her head in there, I was happy with it, I really was. When it’s a horse race like that – it looked like it was going to be a bob of a head – I was worried about that. When she sprinted away I was happy.”

John Velazquez, winning jockey aboard Stephanie’s Kitten (No. 2): “It was do-or-die, you stay there or you die in there. It was one of those things. She handled the ground great so that was the most important thing. When I asked her, she was there for me.”

“The opening was there. I saw Mike’s horse [Smith, aboard Mizdirection] was drifting out anyway, and I was behind Julien [Leparoux, aboard Centre Court]. I know she gets out a little bit, so I sat there right next to Julien. I thought if I could hold him in there and then get through on the inside, it would be perfect. It opened up just enough for me and when I shot through there, she went.”

“The horse on the outside [runner-up Better Lucky] ran a huge race. She gave me a good run for the money, that’s for sure. I know she’s a fighter, definitely.”

Five career wins for Velazquez on Stephanie’s Kitten: “I love this filly. She’s been so good to me. It’s incredible that she keeps coming back year after year and does this.”

Tom Albertrani, trainer of runner-up Better Lucky (No. 7): “She ran really well, but the winner was able to cut the corner on us. Fortunately for her, she was able to save all that ground. Coming into the race, my filly was doing extremely well and we thought she’d run really well second time off the layoff.”

Joel Rosario, jockey aboard runner-up Better Lucky (No. 7): “I have to give credit to the horse on the inside, she’s a nice filly. Of course my horse ran a big race today. We got beat, but she ran good. It was very exciting; me and the other horse were head-to-head. I tried to beat her but she was too tough.”

Julien Leparoux, jockey aboard beaten favorite Centre Court (No. 3): “The ground is a little too soft. She didn’t have the same kick at the end. She ran even at the end. She was in a good spot, just no kick.”